Trey Ratcliff Biography: Children, Net Worth, Books, Ethnicity, Wife, Age, Height

Trey Ratcliff is an American photographer, author, public speaker, artist, and adventurer widely recognized as a pioneer in high dynamic range (HDR) photography.

Born blind in one eye (which he calls “The Gift”), he transitioned from a career in computer science to full-time photography in his mid-30s, founding the influential travel photography blog StuckInCustoms.com in 2005.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: Trey Ratcliff
• Stage Name: Trey Ratcliff
• Born: July 7, 1971
• Age: 54 years old
• Birthplace: Austin, Texas, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Photographer, Author, Public Speaker, Artist, Blogger, Adventurer
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Susan Ratcliff, Ray Ratcliff
• Siblings: Bianca Ratcliff
• Spouse: Tina Ratcliff (ex)
• Children: Ethan Ratcliff, Isabella Ratcliff, Scarlett Ratcliff
• Relationship: Divorced
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Trey Ratcliff was born on July 7, 1971, in Austin, Texas, to Susan and Ray Ratcliff. He grew up with one sister, Bianca, and was born blind in one eye, with vision only in his left.

He studied computer science with a minor in mathematics at Southern Methodist University, graduating around 1995, and later worked in tech, including a role at Anderson Consulting (now Accenture).

He discovered photography in his mid-30s and went on to build a creative career. He is American, likely of European descent, and his religion has not been publicly disclosed, though his work often explores mindfulness and spiritual themes.

Career

Trey Ratcliff entered photography after a career shift from computer science, purchasing his first digital camera and launching StuckInCustoms.com in 2005.

He began posting one photo and story daily, quickly becoming obsessed with HDR techniques that allowed him to capture dramatic, high-contrast scenes impossible with traditional methods.

His blog grew into the world’s most popular personal travel photography site, with millions of daily views, free tutorials, and a focus on inspiring creativity.

He pioneered HDR advocacy, displaying the first HDR photo at the Smithsonian and selling limited-edition prints globally.

His breakthrough included authoring A World in HDR (2009), a key book on the technique, and co-creating Aurora HDR software.

Ratcliff traveled extensively across all seven continents, building a collector base for fine art prints and expanding into public speaking, workshops, and media features.

He embraced emerging tech like NFTs (with over 1,500 ETH in sales volume) and AI collaborations for generative art, while maintaining daily blog consistency for over 15 years.

Trey Ratcliff remains a leading voice in travel and digital photography, operating from Queenstown, New Zealand. He sells fine art prints and NFTs, runs educational content via his site and Passport program, produces podcasts, curates book/podcast recommendations on mindfulness, and hosts events like world tours.

His work promotes consciousness through imagery, blending technical innovation with storytelling to influence photographers worldwide.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @treyratcliff
• Facebook Handle: Trey Ratcliff
• Twitter Handle: @TreyRatcliff

Personal Life

Trey Ratcliff was married to Tina Ratcliff, with whom he had three children: son Ethan and daughters Isabella and Scarlett.

Tina passed away after battling a rare form of cancer, and the family has faced other health challenges, including cancer in his father and sister.

He relocated to Queenstown, New Zealand, where he raises his children and focuses on family, adventure, and personal growth.

Net Worth

Trey Ratcliff has an estimated net worth of around $5 million. His primary sources of income include sales of limited-edition fine art prints and large-format photography to collectors, NFT drops, his long-running blog’s ad/affiliate revenue, eBooks, tutorials, software collaborations like Aurora HDR, workshops, speaking engagements, and merchandise.